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Lent |
The New Portrait of the Provost
Unveiled on the occasion of his 65th Birthday
The Election of the Dean
On January 17th, the Chapter met in extraordinary session to elect the Dean. The Constitutions of the Austrian Congregation describe the dean as ". . . the first adviser and deputy of the Provost . . . and also the representative of the chapter. . . In general, the dean has more responsibility for the inner running of the house. The tasks of the dean are different according to the situation of the individual Stift. Further details are given in the house-rules." The dean's role at our abbey particularly focuses on the care and welfare of the members of the community. He is responsible for the household economy and for fostering the spiritual and material well-being of each member of the community.
The Dean is responsible for both the liturgical calendar of the house, and our daily schedule. This includes organizing monthly “Chorherrenabends” – “canon evenings”, as well as days of recollection, chapter excursions and the annual Study Days in September. He also publishes an occasional newsletter to keep us up to date with the goings-on of the community. Finally, the dean handles all financial matters with the members, from buying a car to our monthly allowance. A good dean is therefore critical to the well-being of the community.
It is no surprise that our current dean was re-elected. Dom Benno is well liked and well respected, serves the brethren with enthusiasm and joy, and also looks after one of our nearby parishes. Please say a prayer for him.
Dom Benno Anderlitschka
A Visit to the former Stift Berchtesgaden
Dom Clemens had the opportunity recently to visit the former Stift Berchtesgaden.
The Cloister
Stift Berchtesgaden was a foundation (1108) of Augustinian Canons, which had the great distinction of being the only house of Augustinian Canons within the Holy Roman Empire to enjoy the status of being its own independent principality, and its provosts, princes of the Empire. Admission to the community was limited to members of the nobility, and the “Prince-Provost” was simultaneously spiritual and temporal lord of the principality that was Berchtesgaden. Several Benedictine and a few Cistercian monasteries also held this status, but Berchtesgaden was the only canonry.
Dom Clemens
It was secularized in 1803 under Napoleonic laws along with most religious communities. The elegant gothic abbey church boasts a beautiful high altar and wonderful choir stalls. The monastery proper is now a museum and residence of the former rulers of Bavaria, the Wittelsbach family.
Junioratswoche
Every year, the juniors of the Austrian Congregation of Canons Regular of St. Augustine spend a few days fostering fraternal ties among the six abbeys. Stift Reichersberg, on the border of Austria and Bavaria, hosted this year's Juniortswoche or Juniorate Week. Here are a few pictures.
The Courtyard and Church
A fresco of Canons Regular of St. Augustine variously habited --
perhaps during a Junioratswoche in Heaven...
The Juniors on tour are no doubt wondering...
... what Dom Gregor, the Dean of Reichersberg,
is going to do with that sword.
The Juniors with Frau Franziska Jägerstetter, the widow of the Blessed Franz Jägerstette,
the recently beatified martyr who, on account of his Catholic faith,
often and publicly resisted the Nazis and their war efforts.
Enjoying the hospitality of Redemptorist Nuns, the Juniors join their hostesses in song.
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